Product Details

• Actors: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith
• Directors: Sylvester Stallone
• Writers: Sylvester Stallone
• Producers: Herb Nanas, Irwin Winkler, James D. Brubaker, Robert Chartoff
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Digital Video Transfer, NTSC
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• VHS Release Date: April 16, 1996
• Run Time: 99 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (101 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304007574
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #211,216 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Rocky III: The third installment in the Rocky saga is the last one to matter, and in this case only marginally. The now rich and famous Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) triumphantly pummels a succession of boxing challengers until he encounters Clubber Lang (Mr. T), a human wall of brick who wants a piece of Rocky's action. The Rock's loyal trainer Mickey (Burgess Meredith) has taken ill and dies, so Rocky recruits retired opponent Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) to whip him into fighting shape after his embarrassing defeat to Clubber. Time for another rematch, mixed in with some family matters involving Rocky's brother-in-law Paulie (Burt Young), who's feeling neglected amid all the hoopla. Not bad as sequels go, boosted by Mr. T.'s taunting presence and yet another rousing finale. For those with a bad case of '80s nostalgia, the hit theme song "Eye of the Tiger" is sure to bring back memories. --Jeff Shannon

Product Description

Rocky battles his most powerful adversary yetthe ferocious Clubber Lang (Mr. T)in this hard-hitting actioner that comes out swinging with adventure, humor and emotionally charged human drama. For what may be the most exciting and fast-paced film in the series, Sylvester Stallone writes, directs and stars with explosive passion and intensity. As Rocky Balboa (Stallone) fights his way into the hearts of millions, life couldn't be better. He scores ten consecutive wins, lands lucrative endorsement contracts and becomes famous throughout the world. But when Clubber Lang KOs Rocky in a humiliating defeat, it becomes apparent that the "Italian Stallion" has lost his edge. Considering hanging up his gloves, Rocky receives encouragement from an unlikely ally: his old nemesis, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). With Creed's help, Rocky strives to regain the "eye of the tiger" before confronting Lang in a grueling rematch for the world heavyweight championship.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "There is no tomorrow!!", September 27, 2006

By 

Yujiro (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rocky III (DVD)

As most already know, Rocky 3 is a look at what happens to most

boxers that gain the popularity and wealth that they strive for

and consequently become "weak". Rocky is no exception. He soon

learns that he was protected by his trainer/mentor/manager Mick

by having Roc take on fighters of a lesser caliber.

And what better "villain" is there to show Roc how soft he has

become than the vicious Clubber Lang (Mr.T). The movie really

shines when an enraged Clubber gets the spotlight and tells

everybody like it is, and it is done with such conviction that

you almost believe Clubber to be truly unstoppable. Clubber goads

Rocky into taking one last fight to prove he's not a coward and

puppet, which proves to be a big mistake for the champion. Soon

after, a bruised and depressed Rocky meets face-to-face with the

ex-champ Apollo Creed. Roc reluctantly allows Apollo to take him

under his wing so he can reinvent himself and regain his champion

status.

A very eager Apollo, timid Rocky, racist Paulie, and motivational

speaker extrodinaire, Adrian, then travel West to a very seedy

side of L.A. which will bring back that raw, desperate atmosphere

Roc needs to get back "The eye of the tiger". The acting is

top-notch for Carl Weathers as he constantly loses his cool during

training with the moronic Balboa (keep an eye out for their latent

homoerotic beach scene where they splash and hug each other in the

ocean at the training's most inspiring moment - certainly a Kodak

moment).

The rematch is boxing cinema at it's most hyperbolic. It is

obvious that Stallone underwent some very intense training to get

his body slimmed down to a spry 191lbs. from his previous 202lbs.

The fight choreography is at times unbelievable, for what human

being could possibly withstand the pummeling that these two take?

To add to the comic-book like violence we get overdone sound

effects; punches that sound like a wooden chair being busted over

a concrete wall, although, judging by how solid these two look, it

might be like hitting a wall.

There are no bonus features that are worth mentioning; all we get

is the original movie trailer.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Movie. Turning point for the franchise., January 11, 2006

By 

Daniel Evans Jr. (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rocky III (DVD)

The above 'plot synopsis' is incorrect.

"Plot Synopsis: Having defeated boxer Apollo Creed twice, Rocky now finds himself . . ."

Rocky didn't beat Creed twice. He only beat him once.

Nitpicking aside, Rocky III is a very good movie, as long as you know what to expect. This is when the Rocky franchise went from well-acted drama to vapid action movie. As long as you knew the difference before you see the movies, you won't be disappointed.

Rocky III is FULL of quotables, most of them from the perfectly casted Mr. T as Clubber Lang. As far as movies in the franchise go, this is the second in the list of must ownership, right after the original Rocky.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Rocky Loses Himself, January 8, 2007

By 

kone "kone" (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Rocky III (DVD)

Recall what it was that appealed to you about "Rocky", the original motion picture. If you are like me, it was the down and out tough guy Rocky, with a heart of pure gold, who finds true love with Adrian, and who gets a one in a million chance and makes the most of it. It is the courage and heart of Rocky that make you want to stand up and cheer for the guy. We love him because we see so much of him in all of us. Unfortunately, the side of Rocky we love so much is gone in Rocky III.

In Rocky III, Rocky loses himself to fame and glory. The guy with the heart of gold who cracks corny jokes is replaced by a successful well-dressed, well-housed, cultured man, who has transformed himself into a man-of-the-world through his successes. He is no longer the man we fell in love with in the original. He has changed. (I suspect this story is a treatise of the personal life of Sylvester Stallone, as his is a rags to riches overnight success story as well).

The theme of the movie is that success spoils (and changes) a person, as it takes away the inner drive to push forward and strive to be the best. In Rocky's case, he loses his title (to the fearsome Clubber Lang, whose personality and style resemble Mike Tyson) and manager (Mickey - heart attack) in one felled swoop, and is lost in a sea of fear and indecision. Coming to the rescue is none other than Apollo Creed, the man Rocky took the title from originally. Creed takes over for the deceased Mickey Goldmill, and tries to transform Rocky from a crude slugger to a svelt polished boxer. He meets with limited success, as the real problem is that for the first time in his life, Rocky is afraid to face his opponent. A confrontation on the beach between wife Adrian and Rocky is the turning point of the film. It is very well done by the way. Talia Shire (Adrian) is often overlooked as just being Rocky's wife, but her scenes in all the films are some of the best scenes of all, and give the films the heart and soul that make the series so enjoyable. As the moral compass of his life, Adrian gets to the heart of the matter and sets her man back on the right path. This sets the stage for the rematch, where we already know what the outcome is going to be.

Rocky overcomes his fear, uses his new polished boxing skills gleaned from Apollo Creed, and trounces the feared Clubber. For me, it is too formulaic to work. The fight scenes with Clubber are pure baloney (my gosh, does either fighter know that it is legal to block a punch?). The fight is meant to demonstrate that Rocky has overcome his fear of Clubber, but the "boxing" is so contrived, it is hard to take seriously.

Hulk Hogan plays a minor role that lends some comic diversion to the story. Hogan is impressive and realistic in playing his wrestling personna.

Mr. T plays the fearsome Clubber Lang. Lang is very much like the real-life Mike Tyson we have come to despise. Stallone developed the character of Clubber Lang 3 years before Tyson came on the boxing scene, so Tyson cannot be the inspiration for the personality of Clubber. In any event, Clubber is an animal (he has the "eye of the tiger") who trains himself in primitive surroundings and will stop at nothing to

become the champion. Mr. T is to be congratulated for his over-the-top performance.

The scene where trainer Mickey dies is a tear-jerking one, and it is well-done. Where Adrian is Rocky's moral compass, Mick is Rocky's professional compass, enabling and inspiring Rocky to be more than he can be. Mick gives Rocky confidence and success because Rocky knows Mick believes in him (and he respects Mick). Burgess Meredith was the quintessential boxing trainer, all full of spit, grit, and vinegar. I will miss him.

While the film deals with a crisis of courage and heart in Rocky, (a serious theme indeed), it somewhat lacks the inspiring emotional punch that was so evident in the original film. It tries to recapture this in the training sequences with Apollo, but falls a bit short (can we seriously believe that Rocky can outrun Apollo Creed? Again, too contrived for my liking). But what the heck, this is the second sequel, so how much can we ask of a sequel?

The film is certainly entertaining, but it is not the picture of the year that "Rocky" was in 1976.

Jim "Konedog" Koenig